Family: Frazier dies after fight with cancer

FILE - In this March 8, 1971, file photo, boxer Joe Frazier, left, hits Muhammad Ali during the 15th round of their heavyweight title fight at New York's Madison Square Garden. Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier is seriously ill with liver cancer. His personal and business manager says Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, the 67-year-old boxer was diagnosed four or five weeks ago and is under hospice care. (AP Photo, File)
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FILE - In this March 8, 1971, file photo, boxer Joe Frazier, left, hits Muhammad Ali during the 15th round of their heavyweight title fight at New York's Madison Square Garden. Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier is seriously ill with liver cancer. His personal and business manager says Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, the 67-year-old boxer was diagnosed four or five weeks ago and is under hospice care. (AP Photo, File)
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FILE - In this April 2, 2009, file photo, Joe Frazier poses for a portrait in New York. The former heavyweight champion has died after a brief final fight with liver cancer. He was 67. The family issued a release confirming the boxer's death on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, File)— AP

FILE - In this April 2, 2009, file photo, Joe Frazier poses for a portrait in New York. The former heavyweight champion has died after a brief final fight with liver cancer. He was 67. The family issued a release confirming the boxer's death on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, File)
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FILE - In this undated file photo, boxer Joe Frazier poses for a photo. Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, has died after a brief final fight with liver cancer. He was 67. The family issued a release confirming the boxer's death on Monday night, Nov. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/File)— AP

FILE - In this undated file photo, boxer Joe Frazier poses for a photo. Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, has died after a brief final fight with liver cancer. He was 67. The family issued a release confirming the boxer's death on Monday night, Nov. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/File)
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FILE - In this March 15, 1967, file photo, Joe Frazier, right, a heavyweight boxer and a contender for champion Muhammad Ali's (Cassius Clay) title, is kidded by Clay at the champion's training quarters at Madison Square Garden in New York. Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, died Monday Nov. 7, 2011, after a brief final fight with liver cancer. He was 67. (AP Photo/John Rooney, File)— AP

FILE - In this March 15, 1967, file photo, Joe Frazier, right, a heavyweight boxer and a contender for champion Muhammad Ali's (Cassius Clay) title, is kidded by Clay at the champion's training quarters at Madison Square Garden in New York. Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, died Monday Nov. 7, 2011, after a brief final fight with liver cancer. He was 67. (AP Photo/John Rooney, File)
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FILE - In this undated photo, boxer Joe Frazier is seated in the corner of the ring. The former heavyweight champion died after a brief fight with liver cancer. He was 67. The family issued a release confirming the boxer's death on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/File)— AP

FILE - In this undated photo, boxer Joe Frazier is seated in the corner of the ring. The former heavyweight champion died after a brief fight with liver cancer. He was 67. The family issued a release confirming the boxer's death on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/File)
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FILE - In this file photo taken Sept. 3, 1980, former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier joins hands with his son Marvis Frazier, left, and James Shuler, right, in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, died Monday Nov. 7, 2011 after a brief fight with liver cancer. He was 67. (AP Photo/Ray Howard, File)— AP

FILE - In this file photo taken Sept. 3, 1980, former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier joins hands with his son Marvis Frazier, left, and James Shuler, right, in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, died Monday Nov. 7, 2011 after a brief fight with liver cancer. He was 67. (AP Photo/Ray Howard, File)
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FILE - In this file photo taken Nov. 22, 1970, heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and his family pose for a family portrait after he returns from a successful defense of his boxing title in Philadelphia. While his wife Florence tries to make their youngest, Natasha, 12 weeks, Joe holds Jo-Netta. Standing behind them, from left, are Jaquelyn, 9, Marvis, 10, and Weatha, 7. The former champion died after a brief fight with liver cancer. He was 67. The family issued a release confirming the boxer's death on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011. (AP Photo, File)— AP

FILE - In this file photo taken Nov. 22, 1970, heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and his family pose for a family portrait after he returns from a successful defense of his boxing title in Philadelphia. While his wife Florence tries to make their youngest, Natasha, 12 weeks, Joe holds Jo-Netta. Standing behind them, from left, are Jaquelyn, 9, Marvis, 10, and Weatha, 7. The former champion died after a brief fight with liver cancer. He was 67. The family issued a release confirming the boxer's death on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011. (AP Photo, File)
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FILE - In this Oct. 1, 1975 file photo, a swollen right eye is apparent on Joe Frazier’s face as he is almost covered over by a towel in Manila, Philippines after losing by TKO in the 14th round to heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali at the Coliseum. Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, died Monday Nov. 7, 2011, after a brief fight with liver cancer. He was 67. (AP Photo/MC/KM, File)— AP

FILE - In this Oct. 1, 1975 file photo, a swollen right eye is apparent on Joe Frazier’s face as he is almost covered over by a towel in Manila, Philippines after losing by TKO in the 14th round to heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali at the Coliseum. Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, died Monday Nov. 7, 2011, after a brief fight with liver cancer. He was 67. (AP Photo/MC/KM, File)
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FILE - In this Oct. 1, 1975, file photo, heavyweight boxer Joe Frazier grimaces after Muhammad Ali, left, landed a blow to Frazier's head during their boxing bout in Manila, the Philippines. Ali won the fight after Frazier's manager stopped the fight in the 14th round. Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, has died after a brief final fight with liver cancer. He was 67. The family issued a release confirming the boxer's death on Monday night, Nov. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/File)— AP

FILE - In this Oct. 1, 1975, file photo, heavyweight boxer Joe Frazier grimaces after Muhammad Ali, left, landed a blow to Frazier's head during their boxing bout in Manila, the Philippines. Ali won the fight after Frazier's manager stopped the fight in the 14th round. Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, has died after a brief final fight with liver cancer. He was 67. The family issued a release confirming the boxer's death on Monday night, Nov. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/File)
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PHILADELPHIA  He beat Muhammad Ali in the Fight of the Century, battled him nearly to the death in the Thrilla in Manila. Then Joe Frazier spent the rest of his life trying to fight his way out of Ali's shadow.

That was one fight Frazier never could win.

He was once a heavyweight champion, and a great one at that. Ali would say as much after Frazier knocked him down in the 15th round en route to becoming the first man to beat Ali at Madison Square Garden in March 1971.

But he bore the burden of being Ali's foil, and he paid the price. Bitter for years about the taunts his former nemesis once threw his way, Frazier only in recent times came to terms with what happened in the past and said he had forgiven Ali for everything he said.

Frazier, who died Monday night after a brief battle with liver cancer at the age of 67, will forever be linked to Ali. But no one in boxing would ever dream of anointing Ali as The Greatest unless he, too, was linked to Smokin' Joe.

They fought three times, twice in the heart of New York City and once in the morning in a steamy arena in the Philippines. They went 41 rounds together, with neither giving an inch and both giving it their all.

In their last fight in Manila in 1975, they traded punches with a fervor that seemed unimaginable among heavyweights. Frazier gave almost as good as he got for 14 rounds, then had to be held back by trainer Eddie Futch as he tried to go out for the final round, unable to see.

"Closest thing to dying that I know of," Ali said afterward.

Ali was as merciless with Frazier out of the ring as he was inside it. He called him a gorilla, and mocked him as an Uncle Tom. But he respected him as a fighter, especially after Frazier won a decision to defend his heavyweight title against the then-unbeaten Ali in a fight that was so big Frank Sinatra was shooting pictures at ringside and both fighters earned an astonishing $2.5 million.

The night at the Garden 40 years ago remained fresh in Frazier's mind as he talked about his life, career and relationship with Ali a few months before he died.

"I can't go nowhere where it's not mentioned," he told The Associated Press. "That was the greatest thing that ever happened in my life."

Bob Arum, who once promoted Ali, said he was saddened by Frazier's passing.

"He was such an inspirational guy. A decent guy. A man of his word," Arum said. "I'm torn up by Joe dying at this relatively young age. I can't say enought about Joe."

Frazier's death was announced in a statement by his family, who asked to be able to grieve privately and said they would announce "our father's homecoming celebration" as soon as possible.